Adjective

Adjective

What Is An Adjective?

An adjective modifies a noun or a pronounby describing, identifying, or quantifying words. An adjective usually precedesthe noun orthe pronoun which it modifies.

Inthe following examples,the highlighted words are adjectives:

The truck-shapedballoon floated overthe treetops.

Mrs. Morrison papered her kitchen walls with hideous wall paper.

The smallboat foundered onthe wine dark sea.

The coal mines are dark and dank.

Many stores have already begun to play irritating Christmas music.

A battered musicbox sat onthe mahogany sideboard.

The back room was filled with large, yellow rain boots.

An adjective can be modified by an adverb, or by a phrase or clausefunctioning as an adverb. Inthe sentence

My husband knits intricately patterned mittens.

for example,the adverb "intricately" modifiesthe adjective "patterned."

Some nouns, many pronouns, and many participle phrasescan also act as adjectives. Inthe sentence

Eleanor listened tothe muffledsounds ofthe radio hidden under her pillow.

for example, both highlighted adjectives are past participles.

Grammarians also consider articles("the," "a," "an") to be adjectives.

Possessive Adjectives

A possessive adjective("my," "your," "his," "her," "its," "our," "their") is similar or identical to a possessive pronoun; however, it is used as an adjective and modifies a noun or a noun phrase, as inthe following sentences:

I can't complete myassignment because I don't havethe textbook.

In this sentence,the possessive adjective "my" modifies "assignment" andthe noun phrase "my assignment" functions as an object. Note thatthe possessive pronoun form "mine" is not used to modify a noun or noun phrase.

What is your phone number.

Herethe possessive adjective "your" is used to modifythe noun phrase "phone number";the entire noun phrase "your phone number" is a subject complement. Note thatthe possessive pronoun form "yours" is not used to modify a noun or a noun phrase.

The bakery sold his favourite type of bread.

In this example,the possessive adjective "his" modifiesthe noun phrase "favourite type of bread" andthe entire noun phrase "his favourite type of bread" isthe direct objectofthe verb "sold."

After many years, she returned to her homeland.

Herethe possessive adjective "her" modifiesthe noun "homeland" andthe noun phrase "her homeland" isthe object ofthe preposition"to." Note also thatthe form "hers" is not used to modify nouns or noun phrases.

We have lost our way in this wood.

In this sentence,the possessive adjective "our" modifies "way" andthe noun phrase "our way" isthe direct object ofthe compound verb"have lost". Note thatthe possessive pronoun form "ours" is not used to modify nouns or noun phrases.

In many fairy tales, children are neglected by their parents.

Herethe possessive adjective "their" modifies "parents" andthe noun phrase "their parents" isthe object ofthe preposition "by." Note thatthe possessive pronoun form "theirs" is not used to modify nouns or noun phrases.

The cat chased itsball downthe stairs and intothe backyard.

In this sentence,the possessive adjective "its" modifies "ball" andthe noun phrase "its ball" isthe object ofthe verb "chased." Note that "its" isthe possessive adjective and "it's" is a contraction for "it is."

Demonstrative Adjectives

The demonstrative adjectives"this," "these," "that," "those," and "what" are identical tothe demonstrative pronouns, but are used as adjectives to modify nouns or noun phrases, as inthe following sentences:

Whenthe librarian tripped over that cord, she dropped a pile of books.

In this sentence,the demonstrative adjective "that" modifiesthe noun "cord" andthe noun phrase "that cord" isthe object ofthe preposition "over."

This apartment needs to be fumigated.

Here "this" modifies "apartment" andthe noun phrase "this apartment" isthe subjectofthe sentence.

Even though my friend preferred thoseplates, I boughtthese.

Inthe subordinate clause, "those" modifies "plates" andthe noun phrase "those plates" isthe object ofthe verb "preferred." Inthe independent clause, "these" isthe direct object ofthe verb "bought."

Note thatthe relationship between a demonstrative adjective and a demonstrative pronoun is similar tothe relationship between a possessive adjective and a possessive pronoun, or to that between a interrogative adjective and an interrogative pronoun.

Interrogative Adjectives

An interrogative adjective("which" or "what") is like an interrogative pronoun, except that it modifies a noun or noun phrase rather than standing on its own (see also demonstrative adjectives and possessive adjectives):

Which plants should be watered twice a week?

Like other adjectives, "which" can be used to modify a noun or a noun phrase. In this example, "which" modifies "plants" andthe noun phrase "which plants" isthe subject ofthe compound verb "should be watered":

What book are you reading?

In this sentence, "what" modifies "book" andthe noun phrase "what book" isthe direct object ofthe compound verb "are reading."

Indefinite Adjectives

An indefinite adjective is similar to an indefinite pronoun, except that it modifies a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase, as inthe following sentences:

Many people believe that corporations are under-taxed.

The indefinite adjective "many" modifiesthe noun "people" andthe noun phrase "many people" isthe subject ofthe sentence.

I will send you any mail that arrives after you have moved to Sudbury.

The indefinite adjective "any" modifiesthe noun "mail" andthe noun phrase "any mail" isthe direct object ofthe compound verb "will send."

They found a few goldfish floating belly up inthe swan pound.

In this examplethe indefinite adjective modifiesthe noun "goldfish" andthe noun phrase isthe direct object ofthe verb "found":

The title of Kelly's favourite game is "All dogs go to heaven."

Herethe indefinite pronoun "all" modifies "dogs" andthe full title is a subject complement.

Written by Heather MacFadyen

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List of Adjectives

Click here for a list of over 1,100 adjectives.

The list of adjectivesis something of wonder. Beholdthe modest adjective. It can leap tall buildings in a single bound. It makesthe average citizen smarter and kinder. It keeps you inthe cleanest car onthe block. Such potent words should be used wisely. Read on and learn how to use your adjective powers for good.

An adjective's job is to modify a noun or pronoun.They are always nearthe noun or pronounthey are describing. Be careful how you use adjectives such as interesting, beautiful, great, wonderful, or exciting. Many adjectives likethese are overused and add little definition to a sentence. Instead, show your reader or listener what you are talking about by using verbs and nouns creatively. Sprinkle fewer well-chosen adjectives for interest.

Adjectives are often used to describethe degree of modification.

The adjective forms are positive, comparative, and superlative.

This tree is tall. (positive)
That tree is taller. (comparative)
The last tree inthe row isthe tallest. (superlative)

A handful of adjectives have irregular forms of positive, comparative, and superlative usage.

These include good/better/best, bad/worse/worst, little/less/least, much-many-some/more/most, far/further/furthest.

My lunch was good, hers was better, and yours wasthe best.

Proper adjectivesare derived from proper nouns.They commonly describe something in terms of nationality, religious affiliation, or culture. Like proper nouns, proper adjectives havetheir first letter capitalized. Some examples of proper adjectives include:

American
French
Japanese
Latino
Asian
Australian
Catholic
Lutheran
Jewish

The following lists are just a sampling of adjectives inthe English language.They are categorized bythe type of attributethey describe. Use your dictionary orthesaurus to add to each list or usethe complete list below this one.

Appearance Adjectives adorable beautiful clean drab elegant fancy glamorous handsome long magnificent old-fashioned plain quaint sparkling ugliest unsightly wide-eyed	Color Adjectives red orange yellow green blue purple gray black white	Condition Adjectives alive better careful clever dead easy famous gifted helpful important inexpensive mushy odd powerful rich shy tender uninterested vast wrong.	Feelings (Bad) Adjectives angry bewildered clumsy defeated embarrassed fierce grumpy helpless itchy jealous lazy mysterious nervous obnoxious panicky repulsive scary thoughtless uptight worried
Feelings (Good) Adjectives agreeable brave calm delightful eager faithful gentle happy jolly kind lively nice obedient proud relieved silly thankful victorious witty zealous	Shape Adjectives broad chubby crooked curved deep flat high hollow low narrow round shallow skinny square steep straight wide.	Size Adjectives big colossal fat gigantic great huge immense large little mammoth massive miniature petite puny scrawny short small tall teeny teeny-tiny tiny	Sound Adjectives cooing deafening faint hissing loud melodic noisy purring quiet raspy screeching thundering voiceless whispering
Time Adjectives ancient brief early fast late long modern old old-fashioned quick rapid short slow swift young	Taste/Touch Adjectives bitter delicious fresh greasy juicy hot icy loose melted nutritious prickly rainy rotten salty sticky strong sweet tart tasteless uneven weak wet wooden yummy	Touch Adjectives boiling breeze broken bumpy chilly cold cool creepy crooked cuddly curly damaged damp dirty dry dusty filthy flaky fluffy freezing hot warm wet	Quantity Adjectives abundant empty few full heavy light many numerous sparse substantial

Why do you need a list of adjectives? Adjectivescan turnthe ordinary in tothe extraordinary. When used properly,they can add vivid interest to your conversation or written communication. However,there can be too much of a good thing. Please keep your adjectives effective by choosingthem wisely.

Comprehensive List of Adjectives

Aaback abaft abandoned abashed aberrant abhorrent abiding abject ablaze able abnormal aboard aboriginal abortive abounding abrasive abrupt absent absorbed absorbing abstracted absurd abundant abusive acceptable accessible accidental accurate acid acidic acoustic acrid actually ad hoc adamant adaptable addicted adhesive adjoining adorable adventurous afraid aggressive agonizing agreeable ahead ajar alcoholic alert alike alive alleged alluring aloof amazing ambiguous ambitious amuck amused amusing ancient angry animated annoyed annoying anxious apathetic aquatic aromatic arrogant ashamed aspiring assorted astonishing attractive auspicious automatic available average awake aware awesome awful axiomatic	Bbad barbarous bashful bawdy beautiful befitting belligerent beneficial bent berserk best better bewildered big billowy bite-sized bitter bizarre black black-and-white bloody blue blue-eyed blushing boiling boorish bored boring bouncy boundless brainy brash brave brawny breakable breezy brief bright bright broad broken brown bumpy burly bustling busy	C cagey calculating callous calm capable capricious careful careless caring cautious ceaseless certain changeable charming cheap cheerful chemical chief childlike chilly chivalrous chubby chunky clammy classy clean clear clever cloistered cloudy closed clumsy cluttered coherent cold colorful colossal combative comfortable common complete complex concerned condemned confused conscious cooing cool cooperative coordinated courageous cowardly crabby craven crazy creepy crooked crowded cruel cuddly cultured cumbersome curious curly curved curvy cut cute cute cynical	D daffy daily damaged damaging damp dangerous dapper dark dashing dazzling dead deadpan deafening dear debonair decisive decorous deep deeply defeated defective defiant delicate delicious delightful demonic delirious dependent depressed deranged descriptive deserted detailed determined devilish didactic different difficult diligent direful dirty disagreeable disastrous discreet disgusted disgusting disillusioned dispensable distinct disturbed divergent dizzy domineering doubtful drab draconian dramatic dreary drunk dry dull dusty dusty dynamic dysfunctional	E eager early earsplitting earthy easy eatable economic educated efficacious efficient eight elastic elated elderly electric elegant elfin elite embarrassed eminent empty enchanted enchanting encouraging endurable energetic enormous entertaining enthusiastic envious equable equal erect erratic ethereal evanescent evasive even excellent excited exciting exclusive exotic expensive extra-large extra-small exuberant exultant
F fabulous faded faint fair faithful fallacious false familiar famous fanatical fancy fantastic far far-flung fascinated fast fat faulty fearful fearless feeble feigned female fertile festive few fierce filthy fine finicky first five fixed flagrant flaky flashy flat flawless flimsy flippant flowery fluffy fluttering foamy foolish foregoing forgetful fortunate four frail fragile frantic free freezing frequent fresh fretful friendly frightened frightening full fumbling functional funny furry furtive future futuristic fuzzy	G gabby gainful gamy gaping garrulous gaudy general gentle giant giddy gifted gigantic glamorous gleaming glib glistening glorious glossy godly good goofy gorgeous graceful grandiose grateful gratis gray greasy great greedy green grey grieving groovy grotesque grouchy grubby gruesome grumpy guarded guiltless gullible gusty guttural	H habitual half hallowed halting handsome handsomely handy hanging hapless happy hard hard-to-find harmonious harsh hateful heady healthy heartbreaking heavenly heavy hellish helpful helpless hesitant hideous high highfalutin high-pitched hilarious hissing historical holistic hollow homeless homely honorable horrible hospitable hot huge hulking humdrum humorous hungry hurried hurt hushed husky hypnotic hysterical	I icky icy idiotic ignorant ill illegal ill-fated ill-informed illustrious imaginary immense imminent impartial imperfect impolite important imported impossible incandescent incompetent inconclusive industrious incredible inexpensive infamous innate innocent inquisitive insidious instinctive intelligent interesting internal invincible irate irritating itchy	J jaded jagged jazzy jealous jittery jobless jolly joyous judicious juicy jumbled jumpy juvenile
K kaput keen kind kindhearted kindly knotty knowing knowledgeable known	L labored lackadaisical lacking lame lamentable languid large last late laughable lavish lazy lean learned left legal lethal level lewd light like likeable limping literate little lively lively living lonely long longing long-term loose lopsided loud loutish lovely loving low lowly lucky ludicrous lumpy lush luxuriant lying lyrical	M macabre macho maddening madly magenta magical magnificent majestic makeshift male malicious mammoth maniacal many marked massive married marvelous material materialistic mature mean measly meaty medical meek mellow melodic melted merciful mere messy mighty military milky mindless miniature minor miscreant misty mixed moaning modern moldy momentous motionless mountainous muddled mundane murky mushy mute mysterious	N naive nappy narrow nasty natural naughty nauseating near neat nebulous necessary needless needy neighborly nervous new next nice nifty nimble nine nippy noiseless noisy nonchalant nondescript nonstop normal nostalgic nosy noxious null numberless numerous nutritious nutty	O oafish obedient obeisant obese obnoxious obscene obsequious observant obsolete obtainable oceanic odd offbeat old old-fashioned omniscient one onerous open opposite optimal orange ordinary organic ossified outgoing outrageous outstanding oval overconfident overjoyed overrated overt overwrought
P painful painstaking pale paltry panicky panoramic parallel parched parsimonious past pastoral pathetic peaceful penitent perfect periodic permissible perpetual petite petite phobic physical picayune pink piquant placid plain plant plastic plausible pleasant plucky pointless poised polite political poor possessive possible powerful precious premium present pretty previous pricey prickly private probable productive profuse protective proud psychedelic psychotic public puffy pumped puny purple purring pushy puzzled puzzling	Q quack quaint quarrelsome questionable quick quickest quiet quirky quixotic quizzical	R rabid racial ragged rainy rambunctious rampant rapid rare raspy ratty ready real rebel receptive recondite red redundant reflective regular relieved remarkable reminiscent repulsive resolute resonant responsible rhetorical rich right righteous rightful rigid ripe ritzy roasted robust romantic roomy rotten rough round royal ruddy rude rural rustic ruthless	S sable sad safe salty same sassy satisfying savory scandalous scarce scared scary scattered scientific scintillating scrawny screeching second second-hand secret secretive sedate seemly selective selfish separate serious shaggy shaky shallow sharp shiny shivering shocking short shrill shut shy sick silent silent silky silly simple simplistic sincere six skillful skinny sleepy slim slimy slippery sloppy slow small smart smelly smiling smoggy smooth sneaky snobbish snotty soft soggy solid somber sophisticated sordid sore sore sour sparkling special spectacular spicy spiffy spiky spiritual spiteful splendid spooky spotless spotted spotty spurious squalid square squealing squeamish staking stale standing statuesque steadfast steady steep stereotyped sticky stiff stimulating stingy stormy straight strange striped strong stupendous stupid sturdy subdued subsequent substantial successful succinct sudden sulky super superb superficial supreme swanky sweet sweltering swift symptomatic synonymous	T taboo tacit tacky talented tall tame tan tangible tangy tart tasteful tasteless tasty tawdry tearful tedious teeny teeny-tiny telling temporary ten tender tense tense tenuous terrible terrific tested testy thankful therapeutic thick thin thinkable third thirsty thirsty thoughtful thoughtless threatening three thundering tidy tight tightfisted tiny tired tiresome toothsome torpid tough towering tranquil trashy tremendous tricky trite troubled truculent true truthful two typical
U ubiquitous ugliest ugly ultra unable unaccountable unadvised unarmed unbecoming unbiased uncovered understood undesirable unequal unequaled uneven unhealthy uninterested unique unkempt unknown unnatural unruly unsightly unsuitable untidy unused unusual unwieldy unwritten upbeat uppity upset uptight used useful useless utopian utter uttermost	V vacuous vagabond vague valuable various vast vengeful venomous verdant versed victorious vigorous violent violet vivacious voiceless volatile voracious vulgar	W wacky waggish waiting wakeful wandering wanting warlike warm wary wasteful watery weak wealthy weary well-groomed well-made well-off well-to-do wet whimsical whispering white whole wholesale wicked wide wide-eyed wiggly wild willing windy wiry wise wistful witty woebegone womanly wonderful wooden woozy workable worried worthless wrathful wretched wrong wry	Y yellow yielding young youthful yummy	Z zany zealous zesty zippy zonked

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